Chris Gronkowski
Encyclopedia
Chris Gronkowski is an American football
fullback
for the Indianapolis Colts
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
at Arizona
.
to Diane and Gordon Gronkowski. His great-grandfather, Ignatius Gronkowski, was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team in Paris. His younger brother Rob
and his older brother Dan
are both NFL tight ends. . His father played three years as an offensive guard at Syracuse
. He attended Williamsville North High School
in Williamsville, New York
where he was a three year letterwinner playing football and baseball. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and recorded 453 receiving yards his senior year. He also forced 4 fumbles and recorded 82 tackles and 2 touchdowns on defense.
as a fullback in 2005, but redshirted his freshman year.
His redshirt freshman season in 2006, he worked his way up into the fullback rotation. He had the eighth highest strength index on the team which was the best among running back
s.
In his redshirt sophomore season in 2007, he transferred to Arizona where he played linebacker
. He went back to the starting fullback position in 2008 as a fourth year junior as he recorded 8 receptions for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was also the Second Team All-Pac-10 Academic Football Team.
In 2009, as a fifth year senior, he recorded 4 catches for 20 yards.
and was projected as high as the 4th round, but went undrafted. One day after the draft, on April 25, 2010, Gronkowski signed with the Cowboys. On September 4, 2010, Gronkowski made it past the final cuts to join the 53 man roster. He made his first career start on September 19, 2010 against the Chicago Bears. Also, his first career touchdown catch came in the same game on a one yard pass from Tony Romo
. On October 25, 2010, in a Monday Night football game against the Giants, Gronkowski missed a blocking assignment on Michael Boley
as he ran straight to Tony Romo and knocked him to the ground. Romo got the pass off to Miles Austin
, but he suffered a fractured left clavicle, which ended Romo's 2010 season. He started 7 out of 14 games and finished the season with 17 rushing yards on 5 carries and 7 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
through waivers.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
.
Early years
Gronkowski was born on December 26, 1986 in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Diane and Gordon Gronkowski. His great-grandfather, Ignatius Gronkowski, was a member of the 1924 U.S. Olympic cycling team in Paris. His younger brother Rob
Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
and his older brother Dan
Dan Gronkowski
Dan Gronkowski is an American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
are both NFL tight ends. . His father played three years as an offensive guard at Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
. He attended Williamsville North High School
Williamsville North High School
Williamsville North High School is a public high school in the Williamsville Central School District of Williamsville, New York. The school offers a comprehensive program with multi-level instruction in many academic areas. The school is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents. During...
in Williamsville, New York
Williamsville, New York
Williamsville is a village in Erie County, New York in the United States. The population was 5,573 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Jonas Williams, an early settler...
where he was a three year letterwinner playing football and baseball. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry and recorded 453 receiving yards his senior year. He also forced 4 fumbles and recorded 82 tackles and 2 touchdowns on defense.
College career
Gronkowski was recruited to MarylandMaryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
as a fullback in 2005, but redshirted his freshman year.
His redshirt freshman season in 2006, he worked his way up into the fullback rotation. He had the eighth highest strength index on the team which was the best among running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s.
In his redshirt sophomore season in 2007, he transferred to Arizona where he played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He went back to the starting fullback position in 2008 as a fourth year junior as he recorded 8 receptions for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was also the Second Team All-Pac-10 Academic Football Team.
In 2009, as a fifth year senior, he recorded 4 catches for 20 yards.
Pre-Draft
2010 season
Gronkowski did not attend the NFL Scouting Combine in 2010, though his brother Rob did. He declared for the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
and was projected as high as the 4th round, but went undrafted. One day after the draft, on April 25, 2010, Gronkowski signed with the Cowboys. On September 4, 2010, Gronkowski made it past the final cuts to join the 53 man roster. He made his first career start on September 19, 2010 against the Chicago Bears. Also, his first career touchdown catch came in the same game on a one yard pass from Tony Romo
Tony Romo
Antonio Ramiro "Tony" Romo is a professional American football quarterback in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo's career passer rating - at 95.8 - ranks third-best all time. Tony Romo didn't play in the regular season in 2003, 2004, or 2005...
. On October 25, 2010, in a Monday Night football game against the Giants, Gronkowski missed a blocking assignment on Michael Boley
Michael Boley
Michael Boley is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Miss.-Early years:Boley played high school football for Elkmont High...
as he ran straight to Tony Romo and knocked him to the ground. Romo got the pass off to Miles Austin
Miles Austin
Miles Jonathon Austin III is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, but he suffered a fractured left clavicle, which ended Romo's 2010 season. He started 7 out of 14 games and finished the season with 17 rushing yards on 5 carries and 7 catches for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Indianapolis Colts
On September 4,2011 Gronkowski was picked up by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
through waivers.